Devotional 6-15-18

Jesus Calms the Storm

Mark 4: ³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

This passage of scripture is very comforting to me!  How can this be? All of us have experienced fear in our lives. These fears can be the loss of a job, the loss of a spouse or child, the end of a marriage or an unexpected medical condition.  In each case, there is a sense of loss and abandonment. We sometimes feel like we are alone on an island with no one to share our pain and grief.  So- I can identify with these disciples as they face a violent storm and yearn for solid ground!

But just like them, we may feel that Jesus is “asleep” in our own life.  This scripture serves to remind us that nothing is further from the truth!  No matter our pain or suffering, Jesus is there to help calm the headwinds and storms in our journey. Jesus asks his disciples why they still have no faith.  No matter what we may face- this scripture reminds us to reach out  to Jesus.

In Matthew 11: 28 Jesus calls out to us! He says : “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

We do not walk alone in this life-even if we sometimes feel that way.  May it always be so!

Prayer: Father thank you for being with us when we encounter tough times.  Help us to call on you when we face fear so that we might have rest for our soul as we await that house not made by hands but eternal to the Heavens.

Marv Jones

Devotional 6-8-18

“Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’ --Matthew 24:40

This spring I had something of a dilemma. I like to feed the birds in my yard. I have a couple of squirrel proof (ha!) feeders, a sunflower feeder, a peanut feeder (please, dear squirrels, eat the peanuts and leave the bird seed for the birds (ha!), a hummingbird feeder and a suet feeder. The suet usually attracts sweet little woodpeckers which I love to watch. 

But recently, a flock of starlings were attracted to the suet. This gang of large, black birds swooped in making all kinds of noise and actually fought each other for the goods. They could devour a single suet cake in 24 hours.

I considered not replacing the suet, although I didn't want to deprive the woodpeckers and "pretty" birds. Then I recalled something my Mother always said when I'd complain about the squirrels and deer helping them selves to my birdseed and flowers, "Well, they're God's creatures too."

The "least of these" scripture popped into my head. Jesus tells us to help all our brother and sisters. Not just the beautiful, well-mannered ones, who look and act like us, but the loud and dirty, the socially unacceptable who make us uncomfortable. We are called to minister to the starlings as well as the cardinals and blue birds.

I continued to replace the suet cakes and the starlings eventually went on their way, but every time I refill the holder, I think of "the least of these." It's a good reminder!

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 6-1-18

WWJD?
(What Would Jesus Do?)

Mark 3:31-35 Common English Bible
³¹ His |Jesus’| mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. ³² A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.”
³³ He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” ³⁴ Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. ³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”

Take me out to the ballgame! Take me out with the crowd… Ah, springtime! A time for shorts, iced tea, and softball! I have been lucky enough this year to have a grandson playing Little League baseball, a granddaughter playing Little League softball, and a daughter and son-in-law coaching her team.  I haven’t been to all of the games, but I’ve certainly attended enough to realize that whether one is coaching, playing, or umpiring, baseball is not easy. But as Jimmy Dugan said in A League of Their Own, “It’s the hard that makes it great.”

The last game I attended was Ruby’s softball game at Hite Saunders Field. Her team, the Clemson Tigers, played Coca-Cola. They met on the Friday leading into the Memorial Day Weekend. We had a couple of girls missing, but that was nothing compared to Coke. They had only six to take the field.

When our coaches realized the problem, they offered to have a Tiger help out, and Ruby was chosen to play right field. She didn’t make any great plays for the other team, but she did retrieve a ball or two. As she left right field to go to her short stop position, I yelled to her, “That’s what Jesus would have done!” Ruby just laughed and waved. She knew that I was happy that she had done the right thing.

Although my experience watching girls’ softball is limited, I think that the adults and the girls themselves try to keep the games positive. The coaches encourage all of the players and make team work the focus rather than the score. The girls chant and sing in the dugout, but the chants are about building up their players rather than tearing down the other team. And the parents and grandparents who sit around me are nothing but helpful to each other and compliment and encourage players on both teams.

If you think I’m being a Pollyanna about all of this, you may be right. It’s possible that I have missed the games when really hateful things were said, and I know that anyone who thinks that there’s no crying in softball is out of touch with reality.  Still I look forward to the next game. You see, I can’t wait for those young ladies to show me again just what Jesus would do. After all, they do belong to His family.

Heavenly Father, sometimes I get so tired of the trash talking and negative comments made on TV shows and social media. Thank You for the young girls and boys who have decided to enjoy the fellowship of others while learning to play a sport with confidence and skill. Thank You, also, for the coaches and other volunteers who help make the practices and games possible. May they all continue to show their love and respect for one another – for that is Your will for us all. In Your name I pray.
Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 5-25-18

Bookend Celebrations
Pentecost and Trinity Sunday
 

Read Acts 2:1-42, John 3:1-17, 14-21, Romans 8:12-17

This past Sunday we celebrated Pentecost: the Birth of the Church, the entering of the Holy Spirit into the lives of the Disciples.

Now I have to ask those that were in Worship: was not the Holy Spirit present in the Youth that so energetically and enthusiastically lead the Worship service?  I know I felt, just as the Disciples and John and Charles Wesley felt at a time in their lives, the Holy Spirit entering their hearts and changing their life.  Our Church and our life can be alive, just like this past Sunday as we listen for the Holy Spirit to enter us and to guide us.

This Sunday we Celebrate Trinity Sunday, the mystery of the Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is also Peace with Justice Sunday, a celebration of those that work in the world for Peace with Justice and calls us to allow the Holy Spirit guide our lives to work for Peace with Justice every day.

Pray daily for the Holy Spirit to lead you in your life.

Prayer
Holy Lord, the whole earth is full of your glory! We are in awe of your majesty. In great kindness, you reveal yourself as the One who forgives us. You give us gifts and invite us to go into the world to tell your good news. Help us to respond in faith and go where you lead us each day. We dedicate our gifts so that our community will draw closer to you. Amen. (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Shalom,
Fred Herr

Devotional 5-18-18

John 5: 9-13    Jesus heals at the Pool

 ⁹ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, ¹⁰ and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, " It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."  ¹¹ But he replied," The man who made me well said to me, "Pick up your mat and walk."  ¹² So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" ¹³ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

This particular healing occurs in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate.  The area was used by a great many people who were blind, lame or paralyzed.  Jesus comes upon a invalid and commands him to pick up his mat and walk!  At once, the man was healed and did as Jesus directed.  However, this was the Sabbath and Jewish law demanded no work be done.  Instead of rejoicing at this great miracle the people criticized him for breaking the law.

How about you and your spiritual walk? Have you ever experienced true joy thru God only to have someone "steal" your moment? Or worse- have you ever accidentally minimized another person's mountain top experience by your concern for religious rule or order? 

We sometimes miss Christ interacting in our life.  Like society 2,000 years ago, we tend to get bogged down in the day to day trials of living.  Guided by the rituals of work/family/friends and the demands on our time we may not "see" Jesus moving in and among our daily struggles. But, just like the lame man at the pool, Jesus is there for us. Offering his healing touch and commanding each of us to go forth as his servants to do his will among the least of us!  May it always be so.

Prayer: Heavenly Father- help us to find your Joy in everything we do.  Keep us from being rigid in our spiritual life as we await that house not made with hands but eternal to the Heavens.  Amen

Marv Jones

Devotional 5-11-18

Holy Hurricane

Pentecost is a Christian holiday that is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter.  It occurs about ten days after the ascension of Jesus Christ.  It is signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the followers of Jesus while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks as described in the in the Acts of the Apostles.

There are some stories of how Jesus talked with the disciples before He ascended. He told them that they should not leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit arrived.  In Acts 2, the scene of the disciples in a room at Pentecost links the commitment of the Holy Spirit’s work in the church with the conclusion of Christ’s earthly ministry in the Upper Room before the crucifixion.

Descriptions of fire and wind in the Pentecost account resounds throughout the Old and New Testament. The sound of rushing wind and its might is always understood as under God’s control.  Another aspect of the account is the miraculous speaking of foreign tongues that enabled people from various language groups to understand the Apostles.  Many thought the Apostles were drunk but Peter convinced them otherwise.

The question is why did the Holy Spirit come with such force? Some research stated that God wanted to change the people and changing people is never easy.  The wind came like a “Holy Hurricane.” So many times when our country suffers from a hurricane, we learn that it brings the people closer together.  I remember when Houston, Texas was flooded.  We saw the people change.  They helped each other.  Physical possessions no longer mattered.  People’s lives became first concern for all. Everyone came closer, caring for the needy. It definitely worked in Jerusalem!  The words moved them, and they asked Peter what should they do? He told them to be baptized in the name of Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and the Gift of the Holy Spirit.  Peter preached a long sermon and over 3000 were baptized. They joined the others in attendance of the Holy Communion service.  A deep sense of awe was n all of them, and the Apostles did many miracles.

Hear Our Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Give us the sense of awe that your disciples felt as they began to preach your message among the people. Give us a sense of belonging to our church community.

Amen

Carol L. Brown

Devotional 5-4-18

JOHN 15: 9-17

YOU ARE MY FRIENDS….

I would imagine most of us know enough about Facebook to understand that using it is most commonly to help us keep in touch with friends. Someone asks you to be their friend and you accept; or you ask someone to be their friend and they accept.  You have gained the privilege of posting messages which they may read, and vice versa. Personally, I check Facebook perhaps twice a week, and reading through the posts, I can further communicate with my friends by clicking one of several little icons. You can like the comments or pictures, love them, laugh at their humor, show your utter surprise, indicate your sadness or your anger—quite a good selection, don’t you think?

I don’t do much clicking unless the comment or picture makes quite an impression on me. The ones I use most often are simply that I like it (thumbs up!)  or am quite moved by it in some way and I love it (red heart!).  

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus often addresses the disciples and sometimes others in the crowds that follow him as “my friends….” In the above passage, he says, “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

If the above scripture reading were a post from Jesus on Facebook, what other response could I possibly have given than to click the little red heart?  His post is wonderful news!

 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

As we yearn to be part of the Body of Christ, let us reach out to others—even to those we may not know well, call them our friends, obey God’s commands, and click the little red heart.

It’s not so easy as clicking the little red heart on Facebook.  But—perhaps it could become so, if we did it as often as we do on Facebook! 

Diane Feaganes